The iconic Germania Bank Building at 190 Bowery is a New York City landmark, not only for its facade and interior, but for its long-standing graffiti as well.

When it was the home of artist Jay Maisel for decades, the buildings exterior was never scrubbed, leading to more and more graffiti that would end up defining it. But alas, Maisel sold the building for millions last year, and the new owners have decided the graffiti needed to be cleaned up.

Our friends at Bowery Boogie recently went by to check out the graffiti-scubbing progress, and most of the decades-old layers of spray paint have been stripped away completely.